GUNS Magazine July 2013 Digital Edition - Page 82

tieS to the titanic FaTe inTerVenes. A an iceberg and sunk at 2:20 a.m. on April 15. The debate continues today as to what really happened on the Titanic and several movies have been made of the disaster. Not only did they not have enough lifeboats these were not always filled to capacity. Of John taffin the more than 1,500 people on board than half were rescued by the ship s I write this, it is the most dreaded day of the year less Carpathia. for many, namely April 15. However, I’m not thinking One of the passengers on the of taxes as I always do mine in early February. One of Titanic was Marie Daumont. This the cleverest things the federal government ever did was lovely young lady, age 38, was from institute payroll deduction. Can we even imagine the uproar Escaudin in France and was married Franck Lefebvre. They had eight if everyone had to write one check for the entire year on to children and their goal was to go to April 15? But I’m not concerned about taxes at all today. America. Franck left first along with Instead I’m looking back 100 years as it was on this day in at least two of his older children and 1912 the Titanic hit an iceberg and sank. The Taffin family is settled in Iowa. Marie was to follow both horribly and wonderfully linked to the Titanic forever. with their four youngest children, Mathilde, 12; Jeannie, 8; Henry, 6; and The Titanic was the largest ship disaster and there were only enough Ida, 5. Passage was very expensive and built up to that time. Construction lifeboats to hold 1,200 people. None Marie’s ticket alone was $172. This lasted from 1909 through 1911 and of this should matter; after all, the was for 3rd-class accommodations capacity was just over 2,200 people. Titanic was believed to be unsink- and Marie and her four children as far Its maiden voyage was scheduled able. On April 10 the Titanic left as it is known were the only French to leave Southampton, England on Southampton and made stops at passengers in 3rd-class. April 10, 1912 crossing the Atlantic Cherbourg, France and Queenstown, They were to travel across the bound for New York City. It was not Ireland to pick up passengers. Four Atlantic and then take a train from filled to capacity with just over 1,500 days out on April 14 the Titanic hit New York City to Iowa to meet up passengers on board. For the with the rest of the family. They world’s wealthiest people this never made it. To this day their was to be a holiday excurbodies have never been found, sion and many of the welland if so could not be identiknown names of the time fied. Franck was anxiously were on board including the awaiting their arrival in Iowa world’s richest man, John and when he went to the offices Jacob Astor, and his family. of the White Star Line for news However, it was not only the of the crossing he was horrified wealthy or the famous on to find the terrible news the board but also those looking ship had sunk. for a better life in America. This was not the end of the More than 1,000 immigrants tragedy as when he went to the from Europe were also on Red Cross Relief Committee his board hoping to see Lady personal file was opened and it Liberty in New York harbor was determined he had entered and to experience the beginthe United States illegally by ning of a new life. providing false and misleadAll the latest conveing statements to immigration niences and safety features officials on Ellis Island. He and Angeline Daumont were aboard the Titanic, his children were sent back to Taffin: Courage and however the crew was ill France in August 1912 and at character personified. prepared for handling any continued on page 81 82 W W W . G U N S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • J U LY 2 0 1 3